Turbo 5 Speed Manual Highly Serviced No Problems Drives Like A Rocket No Reserve on 2040-cars

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Subaru WRX STI vs. Audi S3 in compact AWD dustup

It's not every day that a Subaru and an Audi can be reasonably compared head-to-head; the two brands tend not to compete directly in their respective segments. However, the latest WRX STI and the S3 Sedan offer the perfect chance to find out if the working-class Scooby can beat its upper-crust competitor.
The UK's Auto Express gets behind the wheel of these two all-wheel drive performance sedans, or saloons as the Brits call them. Across the pond, both of them are rated at an identical 296 horsepower, but the Subaru edges out the Four Rings on torque. Like in the US, British buyers have to pay a little more to get the Audi, but it comes with a nicer interior and more brand cachet, if that means anything to you.
The video starts out with a fairly standard road test comparing the two of them back-to-back - all fairly subjective. But then Auto Express takes the trip to the drag strip, and the results there are much more conclusive. There's a definite winner when they cross the line, but you have to scroll down to see which of these turbocharged models with rallying heritage wins out.

2016 Subaru WRX and STI get new safety, tech equipment

The Subaru WRX and STI were just thoroughly revamped, but the Japanese brand has decided to tweak the offerings slightly for the 2016 model year. The changes include some upgraded safety systems, and as a possible blasphemy to fans, a smaller wing is being offered on the STI. The latest versions should hit dealers in the summer, but prices grow slightly. A base WRX is $300 more than last year at at $26,595 (plus $795 destination on all of them), and the cheapest STI is $34,695, a $200 increase. The WRX is undoubtedly fun to drive already, but the Premium and Limited trims now ride on standard 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires. For added in-car entertainment, Subaru is giving all models, including the STI, its 6.2-inch Starlink infotainment system that includes a rearview camera. Vehicles with navigation get a seven-inch version. Driving a WRX might be just a little safer too because Subaru is offering its EyeSight system with adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist as an option on the Limited with the CVT. It's packaged with things like the nav system, upgraded radio, keyless start, and steering-responsive foglights for $4,095. The same trim with the six-speed manual gets a similar bundle but replaces some of the safety tech with just blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert for $3,100. In perhaps the most contentious change, the STI Limited trim is now available with a tiny, trunk lip spoiler as a no-cost option. Seeing the aggressive sedan without the big wing certainly looks odd in photos, and it's still available for buyers who want it. Related Video: April 23, 2015 SUBARU INTRODUCES 2016 WRX® AND WRX STI® MODELS, OFFERING EYESIGHT® DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY AND SUBARU STARLINK™ INFOTAINMENT EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, now with Lane Keep Assist, available for WRX with Sport Lineartronic™ transmission Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert available for some models Subaru STARLINK™ Multimedia Touch Screen Infotainment in all trim levels Standard 18-inch wheels and summer performance tires on WRX Premium and Limited WRX STI Limited now available with low-profile rear trunk spoiler WRX models begin at $26,595 and WRX STI at $34,695 Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc.

Even Ferrari swept up in latest Takata recall expansion

The scope of Takata's deadly airbag problems continues to widen. Eight manufacturers announced recalls Friday that affect more than 12 million vehicles, according to documents filed with federal regulators. The automakers include Honda, which is recalling 4.5 million units, Fiat Chrysler with 4.3 million, Toyota with 1.65 million, and Subaru, which is recalling almost 400,000. Some of these cars include the Saab 9-2x and Pontiac Vibe that Toyota and Subaru made for General Motors. Mazda will recall 730,000 vehicles and Nissan has 400,000 affected units. The smallest numbers were posted by Mitsubishi, with 38,000 Lancers manufactured from 2006 to 2007, and as a noteworthy high-end manufacturer, Ferrari is calling back 2,800 vehicles. These are all US-market cars. Beyond America, the Japanese Transport Ministry has announced seven million additional vehicles will be recalled, which means 19.6 million vehicles across the globe are affected by recalls announced. The defects have been traced to an insufficiently manufactured airbag inflator, which lacks a drying agent that would prevent the inflators from deteriorating over time. Thirteen deaths have been linked to the faulty airbags, which have become unstable and are prone to exploding and showering vehicle occupants with lethal amounts of metal shrapnel. A private equity firm, KKR & Co., has been named in a possible buyout of the struggling Takata. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Recalls Ferrari Honda Mazda Automakers Mitsubishi Nissan Pontiac Subaru Toyota Saab Safety